Tuned vibrating system



May 3, 1955 J. F. MARSHALL TUNED VIBRATING SYSTEM Filed May 25. 1950 AINVENTOA 'Joseph 'JPa/:szaZZ United States Patent O i TUN ED VIBRATIN GSYSTEM `loseph F. Marshall, Cambridge, Mass., assigner toStromberg-Carlson Company, a corporation of New York Application May 25,1950, Serial No. 164,255

11 Claims. (Cl. 84-405) The present invention relates to tuned vibratingsystems for musical instruments generally and more particularly to atone bar assembly and associated mechanism for musical instruments suchas carillons or the like.

The electronic or so called amplified carillon is fast replacing thetraditional church bells in popularity because it does everything thetraditional bells can d automatically, it is tons lighter and thousandsof dollars more economical. Furthermore, it can be installed wheretraditional bells by virtue of their weight and cost are entirely out ofthe question. Such a carillon heretofore has comprised a plurality oftone bars of different lengths usually fastened at one end with strikermeans for striking individually or in groups various ones of said tonebars. Suitable pick-up devices pick up the vibrations created which areamplified and broadcast direct from church belfries or other placesthrough the medium of loud speakers and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedcarillon of the electronic type.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedtone bar assembly and tuning means for a carillon or similar device inwhich standard length rods may be used for all the notes.

lt is a further object of the present invention to provide a tone 'oarfor a carillon in which the bar is placed under tension to determine therelative frequencies of the overtones.

Still another object of the present invention resides in the provisionof an improved striker mechanism for the tone bar assembly of a carillonor similar device.

A still further object of the present invention comprises an improvedtuning means including adjustable collets for the tone bars of acarillon which bars are rigidly supported at each end.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent as the following description proceeds and the features ofnovelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisspecification.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may behad to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a top view, somewhat schematic of a tone bar assemblyembodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the tone bar assembly of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on line Li-d of Fig. 3 assuming thatFig. 3 shows a complete structure;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the details of the strikerelement embodiment schematically indicated in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram showing the vibration pick ups andassociated amplifying and sound reproducing means which may beassociated with the vibrating elements of the carillon or" the presentinvention.

2,707,414 Patented May 3, 1955 "ice In accordance with the presentinvention, there is provided a carillon which has many basic advantagesover that of the bell type carillons heretofore employed. It is a wellknown fact that conventional bells have harmonies or overtones which arenot in tune with their fundamental and in order properly to tune suchbells is a very expensive proposition requiring the removal of materialfrom the bell. 1f too much material is removed, the bell must bescrapped or recast. The amplitied carillon of the present invention isof iow cost, may be housed in a small space, is of small mass and may betuned so that the overtones are in tune with their fundamental. A tonebar assembly is provided in which tone bars of the same length andconfiguration are rigidly supported at cach end and at an intermediatepoint, and the different fundamentals of the respective tone bars areobtained by properly positioning elements associated with each bar. Therelative frequencies of the overtones are controlled by appropriatelytensioning the bars. An improved striker element is provided including asnubber member mounted in an improved manner whereby sustained tones anddamped tones may be obtained selectively.

`teferring now to the drawing, there is illustrated in Figs. l and 2 insomewhat schematic form the improved tone bar assembly of the presentinvention generally designated at 10 comprising a plurality of tone barsor vibrating members 11, 12 and 13. It should be understood that thenumber of tone bars may be varied in dependence upon the number of notesthe carilion is designed to have and the number of bars illustrated inFig. l is of no significance, a plurality being illustrated more clearlyto illustrate the present invention. in accordance with the presentinvention, the tone bars 11 to 13 for producing different bell tonefundamentals are all of the same length and cross section and in theparticular instance illustrated are subdivided into six differentlengths and independently vibrating rods designated as 11a, 11b, 12a,12b, 13a and 13b, respectively.

For the purpose of supporting the tone bars 11 to 13 inclusive, there isprovided, adjacent each end of the bars, mass or supporting elements 14and 15. To subdivide each tone bar, there is additionally provided anintermediate or center mass element 16. These mass or supportingelements which are rigidly supported on a frame 17 preferably arerelatively heavy elements so that relatively no vibrations thereof willoccur in the event that one or more of the tone bars 11 to 13 orindividual parts thereof are caused to vibrate, thereby preventingdamping of the vibration of the bars by transmission of the vibration toother members of the tone bar assembly. Essentially, therefore, the masselements 14, 15 and 15 are of suicient weight so that they will notvibrate appreciably from the reaction of the tone bars thereagainst.Each of the mass elements 14 and 1S are of substantially identicalconstruction, and are disposed in spaced parallel relationship at theends of frame 17. The mass element 16 is skewed or disposed at an angleas clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawing in order to produceapproximately the different length tone bar sections 11a, 12a, 13a, 11b,12b and 13bI for the desired portion of the musical scale. These masselements 14., 1S and 16 are preferably fastened to the frame 17 byfastening means 18. Each mass element is provided with a plurality ofspaced openings 2t) therein which openings are so disposed that when thesound bars 11 to 13 are disposed therein, they are preferably supportedin spaced parallel relationship.

As is best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, each of the openings 20 inthe end masses 14 and 15 is adapted to receive therein a collet 22provided with a dat surface 22a along one portion of the circumference,diametrically opposed longitudinally extending notches 22b at one end ofthe Collet in order effectively to provide a bifurcated end, and acentral opening or passageway 22e so as to slidingly receive therein oneof the tone bars such as 11, 12 or 13. Similarly each of the openings2t) in the center or skewed mass portion 16 is adapted to receive acollet 2? which, like the collets 22. is provided with a dat surface 23aalong one portion of the circumference, diametrically opposedlongitudinally extending notches 23b at either end of the collet 23 soas to provide bifurcations at both ends of the collet, and a centralpassageway 23C adapted to receive therein the tone bars such as 11, 12or 13. A plurality of pairs of set screws 25 and 26 are associated withthe mass elements 14 and 15, one pair of the set screws 25 and 16 beingassociated with each opening and spaced from each other along thelongitudinal axis of the opening 2t). The set screw is adaptedthreadedly to engage the flat surface 22a at the nonbifurcated end ofthe collet 22, thereby rigidly securing the associated collet means tothe mass element 14 or 15. The set screw 26, on the other hand, isadapted to engage the flattened surface 22a adjacent the bifurcated endof the collet 22 as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing to clampthe collet 22 to the associated tone bar. Similarly, the skewed centermass element 16 is provided with a plurality of groups of set screws3i?, 31 and 32, each group of three set screws being spaced from oneanother in a line extending along the longitudinal axis of the openingZtl. Each set screw is adapted to engage the flat surface 23a of thecollet 23 at an intermediate point thereof so as firmly to iix thecollet 23 to the skewed mass element 16. The set screws 31 and 32, onthe other hand, are associated with the bifurcated ends of the collets23 and function in the same manner as the set screws 26 to fasten thecollets to the associated tone bars, two set screws being required, Y

one for each section of the tone bars as mentioned above. During theassembly operation of the tone bars with the mass elements, the collets23 are first inserted into Y vthe respective openings 2t? of the skewedcenter mass element 16 and the set screws 30 are adjusted to hold allthese collets 23 in position. The tone bars of equai length 11, 12 and13 are then inserted in the passageways 23e of the collets 23 with theends thereof extending into the passageways 20 of the mass elements 14and 15. It should be noted that the passageways 2t) in the mass element14, 15 and 16 for receiving any particular tone bar are coaxiallydisposed, or, in other words, are in alignment. The set screws 31 and 32are now tightened so as to clamp the bifurcated ends of the collets 23to the associated tone bars. The passageways 23C of each of the collets23 are sufliciently long to prevent tilting or displacement of the tonebars and furthermore, the bifurcated ends of the collets 23 provide fora good grip on the tone bars.

In order to cause the tone bars 11, 12 and 13 to produce six differentfundamental notes, the collets 22 are now inserted in the openings 21Bof the mass elements 14 and 15 so as to surround the associated tonebars 11, 12 and 13. The end collets are fastened to the mass elements bythe set lscrews 25 and to the tone bars by the set screws 26. Tuning ofthe sections 11a. 12a, 13a, 11b, 12b, and 13b of the tone bars 11, 12and 13 is accomplished by moving the end collets 20 to the left or rightas desired for proper tuning and refastening the collets to the tonebars and masses in the desired positions. It should be understood thatalthough the tone bars illustrated are each capable of producing twoseparate fundamental notes, that at least one tone bar might be employedwithout any associated center mass element to produce very low frequencybell tones. Likewise, in certain cases more than three masses may beassociated with each rod. When the mass elements 14, 15 and 16 areeffectively clamped to the rods 11, 12 and 13, two tone bars are ineffect provided for each length of a tone bar, one comprising theportion between the mass elements 14 and 16 and the other comprising theportion between the mass elements 15 and 16. The frequency at which therods vibrate is, of course, dependent upon the length of the end clampedrod sections between the masses 14 and 16 and 15 and 16. With thisarrangement, the various tones desired can be obtained by using a numberof tone bars such as 11, 12 and 13, all of the same length. As wasmentioned above, tuning the tone bar assembly 10 shown in Fig. l is arelatively simple matter since initially the tone bars are assembled inthe manner shown with the end collets 22 loose thereon in the end masses14 and 15 and the tone bars clamped to the center mass 16, The ends ofthe tone bars or rods are subsequently clamped to the end masses bymeans of the collets 22 which can be moved in and out to the properposition to determine the dominant tone or fundamental note desired ofeach tone bar. By clamping the collets 22 securedly to the mass elements1d and 15 by the set screws 25 any twisting of the associated tone baris prevented when the set screw 26 is tightened, thereby eliminating anypossibility of change in the overtone structure.

In accordance with the present invention, it has been found that thetone produced by each of the tone bars may be improved if the rods areplaced under tension, since by appropriately tensioning the rods it ispossible to modify the relative frequenciees of the overtones orharmonics. Accordingly, each end of the tone bars 11, 12 and 13 isthreaded as indicated at 34 whereby a suitable winged nut may be appliedthereto appropriately to tension the tone bars against mass 14 and 15.Under these conditions, it will be understood that the tension will beapplied to the tone bars or rods before the set screws 26 associatedwith the end supports 14 and 15 are nally tightened, but after themiddle collets 23 are firmly clamped to the rods and skewed center mass.

It will be understood that the collets 22 and 23 are preferably formedof a hardened steel so as to perform satisfactory clamping operation.Similarly the tone bars 11, 12 and 13 inclusive are made of suitablematerial for producing satisfactory tones.

For the purpose of causing vibration of one or more of the tone bars 11,12 and 13, inclusive, there is associated with each tone bar section asuitable striker mechanism schematically designated by the referencenumerals 38 in Fig. l of the drawing. The details of the strikermechanisms 3S, identical for all of the tone bars, is

clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing. As illustrated, the strikermechanism comprises an electromagnet generally designated at 40 having amovable armature of striker 41 which is provided with a suitableelongated opening 41a through which the tone bar such as 11 extends.Upon energization, the armature or striker 41 moves upwardly asindicated in Fig. 5 of the drawing whereby the striking surface 4111thereof engages the associated tone bar indicated as 11 in Fig. 5. Itwill be understood that electro-magnet 40 will be energized in responseto closing a suitable control switch preferably in response tomanipulating a key of the manual of the carillon whereupon the strikingsurface 41b will strike the associated tone bar. As long as the key isactuated, the striker 41 will be maintained somewhat in the positionshown in Fig. 5 whereby the tone bar may produce a sustained tone. Inaccordance with the present invention, the striker mechanism 38comprises suitable damping means comprising the snubber or dampingmember 43 formed of suitable material such as leather or the like. Thesnubber 43 is mounted at the end of a suitable spring member 44 which inturn is supported from the striker 41 as indicated at 45. Thecharacteristics of the spring 44 and snubber member 43 are chosen togive suitable cornpliance. When the key which controls the energizationof the solenoid or electromagnet 40 is released, the striker 41 dropsdown whereby the snubber member 43 engages the associated tone bar. Ifthe compliance of the snubber 43 and spring 44 are correct, there willbe no thump or too-rapid snubbing action whereby any undesired toosuddenmuiing of the tone will be eliminated.

It will be understood that a carillon of the type described will notproduce an audible tone without amplification means or the like.Accordingly, there is appropriately associated with each bar section asuitable pick-up unit schematically indicated in Fig. l by the referencenumerals 50, one pick-up unit being associated with each tone barsection. These pick-up units 50 preferably each comprise a winding 51and a magnetizable core 52. As illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings,the windings 51 of a whole series of these pick-up units S0 may beconnected together and to the input of a suitable amplicr 53 adapted tooperate one or more signal reproducers or loud speakers 54. It will beunderstood that other appropriate types of pick-ups such, for example,as electrostatic pick-ups may be employed, and the pick-up units andamplification circuit of Fig. 6 form no part of the present inventionbut are merely illustrated for the purpose of making a completedisclosure.

In view of the detailed description included above, the operation of thecarillon of the present invention will readily be understood by thoseskilled in the art. The tone bars may all be chosen of substantially thesame length and the different fundamental notes obtained by adjustingthe end collets 22. The relative frequencies of the overtones may alsobe adjusted by properly tensioning the tone bars through use of the nuts35. In addition, the striker mechanism 38 includes a striker elementhaving improved snubbing means associated therewith.

While there has been illustrated and described what is at presentconsidered the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that numerous changes andmodifications can be made without departing from the invention in itsbroader aspects, and it is aimed in the appended claims to cover allsuch changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scopeof the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:

l. In a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device, a pluralityof tone bars of approximately the same configuration and length, meansfor supporting said bars in spaced relationship comprising end supportsof rela` tively great mass, means including a plurality of collets onefor each juncture of support and tone bar for clamping said bars to saidend supports, at least one striker for each of said bars, anintermediate mass element for supporting each of said tone bars betweensaid end supports, means for clamping each of said tone bars to said iintermediate mass element, and means for positioning the colletsassociated with said end supports to control the fundamental frequencyproduced by each tone bar when struck by its associated striker.

2. A sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device comprising, aplurality of tone bars of approximately the same configuration andlength, means for rigidly supporting said bars in spaced parallelrelationship comprising end and center supports of relatively greatmass, at least one striker for each of said bars, a plurality of colletsslidable on said tone bars and means for clamping said supports to saidcollets and said collets to said tone bars to control the fundamentalnote produced by the associated tone bar when struck by its associatedstriker'.

3. In a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar dey vice, aplurality of' tone bars of approximately the sarne configuration andlength, a pair of spaced supports, means defining a plurality of spacedopenings in each of said supports for receiving the ends of said tonebars, said openings being so arranged that said tone bars are disposedin spaced parallel relationship and perpendicular to said spacedsupports, means associated with each of said Openings for clamping theportions of the tone bars disposed therein to said supports, anintermediate support disposed between said end supports comprising a Citplurality of passageways one for each of said tone bars, means forclamping each of said tone bars to said intermediate support, saidintermediate support being disposed at an angle other than a right anglewith respect to each of said tone bars to divide each of said tone barsinto two sections, and a striker for each section for causing eachsection to vibrate.

4. In a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device, a pluralityof tone bars of approximately the same configuration and length, meansfor supporting said bars in spaced relationship comprising end andintermediate supports of relatively great mass, means comprising colletshaving a bifurcated end for clamping said bars to said end supports,means comprising a plurality of collets for clamping each of said tonebars to said intermediate support, said intermediate support beingdisposed in a different relative position with respect to each of saidtone bars whereby each tone bar is divided into two sections eachcapable of vibrating at a different fundamental frequency, and a strikerfor each of said sections.

5. A sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device comprising, aplurality of approximately identical tone bars, a plurality of spacedsupports including a pair of end supports and a skewed center supportwhereby each tone bar is divided into two sections of different lengthsby said center support and the sections of all the tone bars differ inlength, means defining a plurality of spaced openings in each of saidend supports and a plurality of passageways in said center support forreceiving said tone bars, said openings and passageways being soarranged that said tone bars are disposed in spaced parallelrelationship, a first collet disposed in each of said openings andsurrounding the end of its associated tone bar for clamping the portionsof the tone bars disposed therein to said supports, a striker for eachof said bars, a second collet for each tone bar one disposed in each ofsaid passageways for clamping each of said tone bars to said centersupport whereby said tone bar sections vibrate at diiferent fundamentalfrequencies when struck by its associated striker.

6. A sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device comprising, aplurality of approximately identical tone bars, a plurality of spacedsupports including parallel end supports and an intermediate supportdisposed at an angle With respect to said end supports, means defining aplurality of spaced openings in each of said supports for receiving saidtone bars, said openings being so arranged that said tone bars aredisposed in spaced parallel relationship with each tone bar divided intotwo sections of different length by said intermediate support, a rstcollet disposed in each of said openings in said end supportssurrounding the ends of its associated tone bar for clamping theportions of the tone bars disposed therein to said supports, a strikerfor each section of said bars,

l a second collet for each tone bar one disposed in each opening of saidintermediate support, means for causing each of the sections of saidtone bars to vibrate at different fundamental frequencies when struck bysaid striker, and means for placing each of said tone bar sections undertension to improve the tone produced thereby.

7. 1n a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device, a pluralityof tone bars of approximately the same configuration and length eachbeing threaded on at least one end, a pair of spaced end supports and anintermediate support, means defining a plurality of spaced openings ineach of said supports for receiving said tone bars, the ends of saidtone bars being disposed in the openings in said end supports, thethreaded end of each tone bar extending beyond the associated endsupport, said openings being so arranged that said tone bars aredisposed in spaced parallel relationship, means associated with each ofthe openings in said intermediate support for clamping the portions ofthe tone bars disposed therein to said supports, at least one strikerfor each of said bars, means for clamping the tone bars in differentpredetermined manners to said end supports whereby the sections of saidtone bars between adjacent supports vibrate at different fundamentalfrequencies when struck by said striker, and a clamping nut for eachtone bar engaging said threaded end for applying predetermined tensileforces to said tone bars to improve the tones produced thereby.

8. In a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device, a pluralityof tone bars ot approximately the same configuration and length, astriker element for each of said tone bars, means for supporting saidbars in spaced relationship comprising end supports, an intermediatesupport, means for clamping said bars to said intermediate support,adjustable means associated with said end supports for tuning said barsto control the fundamental tone of each bar or section thereof, andmeans comprising a threaded end and associated adjustable member foreach of said tone bars for selectively applying tensile forces to saidbars to control the overtones whereby a more pleasing bell tone isobtained.

9. A sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device comprising, aplurality of approximately identical tone bars, a pair of spacedsupports, means dening a plurality of spaced openings in each of saidsupports for receiving the ends of said tone bars, said openings beingso arranged that said tone bars are disposed in spaced parallelrelationship, a first collet having a bifurcated end disposed in each ofsaid openings and surrounding the end of its associated tone bar, meansfor causing the bifurcated ends of said rst collets to clamp theportions of the tone bars disposed in said openings rigidly to saidsupports, a striker for each of said bars, a skewed intermediate snpportdisposed between said end supports having a plurality of passagewaystherein for said tone bars, and a second collet bifurcated at each enddisposed in each of said passageways, means for clamping the bifurcatedends of each of said second collets to its associated tone bar, saidskewed intermediate support being disposed differently relative to eachtone bar whereby said tone bars vibrate at different fundamentalfrequencies when struck by said striker.

10. In a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar devices, aplurality of tone bars of approximately the same configuration andlength, a striker for each of said tone bars comprising an electromagnethaving an armature longitudinally movable in response to energization ofsaid electromagnet, means defining an opening in said armature, saidtone bar extending through said opening,

one edge of said opening comprising a striker for striking said tone barto produce vibration thereof in response to movement of said armature toa maximum extent in one direction, means for damping said vibrations inresponse to predetermined movement in the other direction of saidarmature comprising a snubber member of soft material engageable withsaid bar in the other extreme position of said armature, and springmeans for supporting said snubber member from said armature, saidsnubber and spring means having a predetermined compliance to preventtoo rapid muiing of tones produced by said tone bar.

11. In a sound bar assembly for a carillon or similar device, aplurality of tone bars of approximately the same configuration andlength, a striker mechanism for each of said tone bars comprising anelectromagnet having an armature vertically movable in response toenergization of said electromagnet, means defining an elongated openingin said armature, said tone bar extending through said opening, one edgeof said opening comprising a striker for striking said tone bar toproduce vibration thereof in response to extreme upward movement of saidarmature, means for damping said vibrations in response to apredetermined downward movement of said armature followingdeenergization of said electromagnet comprising a leather snubber memberengageable with said bar when said armature is in its lowermostposition, and spring means for supporting said snubber member from saidaimature, said snubber and spring means having a predeterminedcompliance to prevent too-rapid mutliing of tones produced by said tonebar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 254,910Blake Mar. 14, 1882 452,006 Steck May 12, 1891 491,607 Steck Feb. 14,1893 758,879 Weber May 3, 1904 881,769 Brown Mar. 10, 1908 1,590,869Weber .Tune 29, 1926 2,463,543 Kunz Mar. 8, 1949 2,479,757 McBride Aug.23, 1949 2,484,745 Rowe Oct. 11, 1949 2,588,295 Rowe Mar. 4, 1952FORETGN PATENTS 14,545 Great Britain Oct. 18, 1890

